Housing Benefit

From the 31st October 2018, you can only claim Housing Benefit if you are responsible for paying rent in the property you live in and you have reached state pension age. You may still be able to make a claim for Housing Benefit if you are working age and you:

have three or more children, or

live in temporary homeless accommodation, a local authority hostel or a refuge for victims of domestic violence, or

live in accommodation where you are provided with support, care or supervision (supported accommodation) by or on behalf of your landlord.

Your landlord should be able to tell you if you live in one of these property types. If you do not fall into one of the above categories and need help with your housing costs, you should make an application for Universal Credit.

If you already receive Housing Benefit and you are working age, your award will continue until you have a change of circumstances that means you are no longer entitled, or you claim Universal Credit. The Department for Work and Pensions will contact you directly to tell you if you need to change from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit (known as ‘managed migration’).

If you have applied for, or are getting, Universal Credit, and you are liable to pay Council Tax in Aberdeen, you should apply straight away for Council Tax Reduction, if you have not already done so. If you already get the Universal Credit Housing Costs Element, you can still apply to the council for a Discretionary Housing Payment if you need further help with your rent.

To qualify for Housing Benefit, you must be:

on a low income, whether benefits or low paid work

you (and your partner) don't have more than £16,000 capital or savings, unless you are getting Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)

Housing Benefit is a 'means tested' benefit - different awards will be granted depending on your personal circumstances.

We will need to see evidence of all of your income and savings in order to complete the calculation. Other adults resident in the property are expected to contribute towards the rent, therefore your benefit may be reduced in order to accommodate this.

Home visits can be arranged for the elderly or disabled

Following the introduction of the Pension Credit on 6th October 2003, the benefit schemes are more generous for people of pensionable age. This means that more people may be eligible for Housing Benefit. If you are of pensionable age and are not in receipt of Housing Benefit, now may be the time to apply.

For further information, see the related links section below.

Benefits calculator

The Turn2us website offers help for you if you are unemployed and looking for work, on a low income, retired, bringing up children, ill, have a disability or care for someone. They have a benefits calculator to work out how much you could claim.

Change of circumstance

Housing Benefit backdating

It may be possible to backdate your claim for Housing Benefit and pay it from an earlier date if you have a good reason for not claiming on time. Housing Benefit can be backdated for up to three months if you are of pensionable age and one month or if you are younger than this. If you feel you have good cause for your claim/application to be backdated (for example, if you have been in hospital before claiming) then please do not hesitate to Contact Us

Information you need to provide

Your creditor reference (this can be found on the cheque under reference number)

Your National Insurance number (this is for verification only)

Your bank sort code and account number

Please note that if you hold a Post Office card account into which your State Benefits are paid, these accounts do not accept BACS payments of Housing Benefit so details of an alternative bank/building society account should be provided.

If you do not have a bank/building society account, please contact the above telephone number or any of the offices below.

If you are the landlord and receiving direct payments of Housing Benefit:

Your creditor reference number (this can be found on the cheque under reference number or on the landlord payment schedule)

Your tenants Housing Benefit reference number (this can be found on the landlord payment schedule)

Local Housing Allowance

Private Housing Benefit

Aberdeen City Council has adjusted some of the dates in which the Housing Benefit payments are made for non council tenancies. Future housing benefit payments will be made on the following dates:

Period covered

Date of payment

1 to 31 March 2018

30 March 2018

1 to 30 April 2018

27 April 2018

1 to 31 May 2018

31 May 2018

1 to 30 June 2018

29 June 2018

1 to 31 July 2018

27 July 2018

1 to 31 August 2018

31 August 2018

1 to 30 September 2018

28 September 2018

1 to 31 October 2018

31 October 2018

1 to 30 November 2018

30 November 2018

1 to 31 December 2018

21 December 2018*

1 to 31 January 2019

31 January 2019

1 to 28 February 2019

28 February 2019

1 to 31 March 2019

29 March 2019

*December's payment is paid early due to the festive period.

This change has been made to meet the legislative requirement of payments being made at the end of the Housing Benefit period they relate to.

Payments of Private Housing Benefit are usually made by bank transfer (BACS). This is our preferred method of payment as it is both fast and secure because payments are made via transfer directly into your bank/building society account. This can reduce any delays that may occur with the post or waiting times for cheques to clear.

If you are currently paid by cheque and would like to have your Housing Benefit paid by BACS we will accept your bank details over the telephone. Please call our Customer Contact Centre on 03000 200 292 (lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm) to arrange for your Housing Benefit to be paid by this method.

Related Content

If you are short on time or have a busy schedule, you might want to consider booking an appointment. Our Customer Service Advisors will be happy to see you on your time at our Customer Service Centre in Marischal College.